The Comeback Kid: Craft Beers

The Brewers Association reports that US craft brewers were up 7% in 2004, compared to 1.4% growth for imports and 0.5% growth for domestic mainstream brands. The BA estimates that craft beers added 6.34 million case equivs in 2004, even beating out wine and spirits. That makes craft beers the fastest growing category in the country again, a position held by imports for a decade. Recall that the craft segment struggled to add much volume between the mid-1990s and 2003.